44% of games industry professionals have considered leaving the industry as a result of redundancies
According to a new Skillsearch survey, the games industry faces significant workforce challenges driven by recent redundancies. The annual Salary & Satisfaction survey collected 1,000 responses from professionals across the UK, Europe, North America, APAC, and MENA regions between November 2025 and February 2026.
The findings reveal widespread concern about job security: globally, 44% of respondents have considered leaving the industry due to redundancies. The situation is more acute in the UK, where 76% of surveyed professionals indicated they will be or are considering job hunting outside the games industry in 2026.
The impact of recent layoffs is substantial. Twenty-two percent of survey respondents reported being made redundant within the past 12 months, while an additional 12% experienced redundancies more than 12 months ago. This means over one-third of respondents have been directly affected by job losses in recent years.
The survey underscores ongoing instability within the games industry following numerous high-profile studio closures and workforce reductions. The data suggests that redundancies are not only displacing workers but also eroding confidence in industry stability, prompting many professionals to explore career opportunities outside game development.